Seconds Before the Shot

It's time, you've called in the big buck in the field and you're ready to take the shot. You pull the gun up to take the shot and you're gun is moving everywhere. What do you do now? Where do you shoot?  Your heart is racing and it won't slow down. Well, here are some tips I can give you seconds before you shoot that big buck.

That's take a step back to when you see the deer. As said back earlier in some of my first blog posts, your gun has a ballistics chart. Meaning your gun and ammunition will only shoot so far before the bullet starts to drop. So knowing how your gun is set up and the yards at which your gun is zeroed in at is your first step. Determine how far away the deer is and adjust your shot to that. If the deer is farther than 300 yd and looks as if it may be coming your way, my suggestion would be to pull it in a little closer to create a better opportunity for a shot.

The next step is the placement of your crosshairs in reference to the deer. Let's just assume that the deer is standing at 200 yd and your gun is sighted in at 200 yd. Where do you place the crosshairs on the deer? You want to place them halfway down the deer, just behind the front legs. That is where the heart of the deer lies and will most likely drop the deer instantly and if not will keep the deer from running too far away. Here is an example.


Now, you have buck fever during all of this, and it's exciting! Your adrenaline is through the roof and your anxious, however you need to make a clean shot. Here is the best tip for shooting anything whether thats a deer or a coke can out at the range. First take some deep breaths and slow down your heart. Next take in one deep breath and let out half the air from your lungs out. Finally take your time, aim, and slowly pull the trigger. The perfect shot will come when the gun goes off by surprise. This prevents you from jerking the trigger and pulling your sights off target.

The last thing you do after shooting the deer is watch carefully! This is the most important step in my personal opinion. Chances are the deer isn't going to drop to the ground instantly and it's going to run, run fast and far. Watching the deer carefully will help you when tracking down the deer. Head towards the last place you saw the deer run to and start scouting for blood trails.

Take your time and be patient when searching for your deer. Call for help if needed. Once you find your deer, the fun begins. We will pick up on gutting the deer in the next blog. Be sure to come back and check it out!